Karl Rove blasts Democrats and promotes his new book in the East Bay

LAFAYETTE — Karl Rove made his transformation from behind-the-scenes Republican political strategist and right hand to a U.S. president into a pundit and public speaker look as easy as falling off a log.

Speaking comfortably before a sold-out crowd of nearly 400 friendly Republicans in Lafayette, Rove alternately hammered Democrats and recounted funny stories about the lighter side of his seven years as the White House deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush.

The man many Democrats revile as the coldhearted architect of GOP successes told how he repeatedly hid a White House colleague's car as a practical joke. In return, the fellow staff member had Rove's vehicle covered in plastic wrap and sticky notes.

"But he who laughs last laughs best," said the wry Rove. He arranged to meet his co-jokester in front of the redecorated car for a concessionary photo but instead staged a mock arrest with Capitol police.

Rove's visit was at the invitation of California Republican Party Vice Chairman Tom Del Beccaro of Lafayette, and coincided with the release of Rove's new book, "Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight."

Party officials avoided a repeat of Rove's book signing Monday night in Beverly Hills, where anti-war CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans came onstage with handcuffs, called him a war criminal and attempted to make a citizen's arrest.

Lafayette's thimbles worth of protesters never got within 50 feet of Rove at the Veterans Memorial Building.

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"We think Rove had a hand in starting an illegal war in Iraq and other U.S. policies we abhor, such as torture," said protester Cynthia Papermaster, a Berkeley resident.

Inside, Rove called the Lafayette event much "nicer than the one in Beverly Hills." And he repeated his assertion that the protesters' allegation that the Bush administration lied about weapons of mass destruction "is a pernicious political attack launched by cynical and hypocritical individuals."

His appearance was also a fundraiser for the Contra Costa Republican Party. The $75 ticket included a box lunch and Rove's book.

Rove aimed his strongest criticism Tuesday at Democrats' health care reform. He called much of it unaffordable and predicted Americans would press for repeal or replacement of some or all of it.

He also criticized as dangerous President Barack Obama's decision to restrict the government's interrogation methods and to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, in a public court rather than a military tribunal.

Rove singled out California Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer as an election target. "You have a marvelous, delicious opportunity to kick Boxer out this year," Rove said.

He also said Republicans should not underestimate Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Attorney General Jerry Brown, a man he said has repeatedly recast his political career.

Rove pitched his new book, a 596-page tome The Washington Post described as "unexpectedly tender" but a clear attempt to shape history in Bush's favor.

"I wanted to set the record straight," Rove said Tuesday. "We didn't get everything right — the presidential office is a human endeavor — but we got a hell of a lot more right than we got wrong."

Rove also told how he gave Bush eight reasons why Vice President Dick Cheney — with Cheney in the room — should not be his pick for vice president.

"(Bush) didn't keep me around because of my pretty face or my athletic ability," Rove said. " "... He wanted people who would marshal their facts and tell him what they thought."